Theater Review: 'Varney the Vampire' at Phoenix Stage Company

Oakville - Phoenix Stage Company has been presenting a silly production of “Varney the Vampire, or The Feast of Blood” on their stage in the Oakville section of Watertown. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the play until the penultimate performance, but I was glad that I was able to see it before it closes tonight.

Only a foolish mortal would miss “Varney The Vampire.” If you dare to scream a little and laugh a lot along with Varney?

This wild and clever spoof of vampires was written by Tim Kelly and is based on the melodramatic novel attributed to Thomas Prest, the creator of Sweeney Todd. The comic genius Tim Phillips directs the cast with Shanelle Dupre managing the stage. Phillips set out to make this show tickle your Halloween funny bone and he succeeds.

In 1900 weary vampire Sir Francis Varney shows up at an inn in Italy. He plans to visit a haunted grotto and ask forgiveness from a lost love whose ghost is doomed to roam the landscape wearing a thin veil over her face. Varney forgets his mission and proceeds to snarl and snap at everyone in sight, especially an English damsel. Varney is shot, stabbed with a wooden stake and hanged, and still he survives. The action continues as Inspector Balsadella seeks answers for the strange goings on.

Sir Francis Varney is brought to life (and death) by Daniel R. Willey in a great costume and spooky makeup. Willey, whose PSC credits are numerous, has the perfect voice for the role of a vampire.

Gino the cook is played by Phoenix Stage veteran Brian Elser, and then gets to transform into a vampire in training. Elser is usually working in the dark backstage or in the booth, but also has a long list of onstage credits. Gino’s sister Carla is played by Emily Reiser in her PSC debut.
Signora Bell is portrayed by Missy Cowan in a fancy wig and she gets to break the fourth wall.
The very Italian Inspector Balsadella is played by James Galarneau, who appeared as Robin Hood in the PSC’s “Sherwood.”

The English damsel Flora Bannerworth is played so very well by Deborah Goodman, who has appeared in many productions at the Phoenix Stage Company. Flora’s chaperone and aunt Miss Anderbury is convincingly yet comically played by Amber Dunphy in a great wig. Dunphy played the Beggar Woman in “Sweeney Todd” when the PSC was located in Naugatuck.

Painter (by the numbers!) Richard Dearborn, who is in love with Flora, is played with rip-roaring energy by young Killian Meehan. Every time Meehan enters the stage, his French beret has changed color. When he lost the hat during one intense scene, he covered with a quick ad lib. Meehan recently appeared in “Pocket Shakespeare” and is a young actor to watch.

Dearborn’s ditzy cousin Jenny is played well by Caroline Ahlman in her Phoenix Stage debut. The young actress has worked at Torrington High School and the Warner Theatre’s Performance Lab. The ghostly Amelia is perfectly raised by Laura Sturges-Cortez (“Kill Me, Deadly,”) much of her time spent in a mirror/portrait. Inez, the Gypsy Girl is brought to life by Naugatuck resident Teresa Moran, who appeared in “Mama Won’t Fly” and shows with Shakesperience. Lady Cynthia Holland is played in the second act by Liz Jaffin, who was part of “Murder at the Prop Table” and has also appeared with CTAW.

There is a great gothic set designed by Ed Bassett that includes a large grotto (cue the echo!) elevated above the seats house right of the thrust stage of the PSC. The main room of the Inn of the Grumpy Wolf (“ah-woo!”) is delightfully detailed in furniture and decoration. Karen Willey collected the props. The costumes designed by Bassett and Lori Poulin add to the period details.

The cast of the recently closed “The Addams Family” at the Thomaston Opera House attended the Friday performance together as a sort of family reunion and they laughed the loudest.

“Varney the Vampire” is presented with one intermission. Expect some brief strobe effects. The final performance is tonight, Oct. 29 at 8:00 p.m. If you come dressed in a costume, you get a $10 ticket for the show. Stay after and join the PSC for a Halloween party. You can get tickets at https://www.phoenixstagecompan... , by calling (860) 417- 2505, or at the door!

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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